Warnock leaves Leeds

1 April 2013

Neil Warnock has vacated his position as Leeds manager after offering his resignation to the club's board.

The 64-year-old said in the wake of Easter Monday afternoon's 2-1 loss to Derby - a sixth game without a win - that he would not be in charge at Charlton on Saturday, and the club later confirmed his departure in a statement. Academy coach Neil Redfearn has been placed in charge while the club's owners, GFH Capital, search for a replacement.

"We would like to thank Neil for his efforts during his time as our manager and share his disappointment that we could not achieve promotion this season," said chief executive Shaun Harvey. "We would also like to thank Mick Jones and Ronnie Jepson, who will leave the club with Neil, for all their hard work since coming to the club."

The game against Derby was Warnock's 62nd in charge of Leeds and much of it was spent with the former QPR boss the subject of abusive chants from his own supporters.

He signed an 18-month deal to replace Simon Grayson in February last year and openly said it would be his last job, with the sole aim being to get a record eighth promotion before retirement.

That has not happened, though, and he leaves Elland Road with the team in 12th position and with the club looking up rather than down.

Harvey added: "We now need to look to the future and the search for his replacement is under way, for which there is no fixed timescale as securing the services of the right person is the primary objective, so as to give us the best chance of promotion next season."

Redfearn, the former Barnsley captain, had a four-game stint in charge last season while Leeds sought Grayson's replacement.

The club have not confirmed whether or not he will take charge of all six remaining games this season, as they are already looking for Warnock's successor.

The out-of-work former Reading boss Brian McDermott has already expressed an interest while the club are known to be admirers of Brighton's Gus Poyet.